University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


SAN  ANTONIO 


Jil 


DAW  CROCKETT 


THE  MISSION  CITY 


SAN  ANTONIO 


SOUTHERN  PACIFIC  LINES 


TEXAS  AND   LOUISIANA 
HOUSTON,   TEXAS 


NOTE. — We  are  indebted  for  the  historic  scenes  appearing  in 
this  book  to  the  Triangle  Film  Corporation,  taken  from  their 
classic  production,  "Martyrs  of  the  Alamo." 


FOREWORD 


To  the  Texan,  proud  of  his  native  State,  no 
single  thing  in  all  the  glory  of  its  accomplishment, 
but  pales  before  the  lustre — the  heroism,  the  patri- 
otic fire  which  animated  those  wonderful  martyrs 
of  Texas  independence  who  went  to  their  doom 
within  the  walls  of  the  Alamo. 

History  tells  of  the  messengers  who  fled  from 
bloody  Thermopylae  crying  the  tidings  of  defeat, 
but  history  tells  us  also,  that  when  the  smoke  of 
contest  cleared  from  the  walls  of  the  Mission  Ala- 
mo— life  had  gone  with  the  mists  of  battle  and  the 
heroic  defenders  gazed  towards  the  blue  heavens 
with  eyes  that  saw  not  and  ears  no  longer  attuned 
to  the  melodies  of  Earth — all,  all  were  dead. 

Time  smiled  triumphantly  that  sad  March  day 
of  1836.  Rapacious  Mexico  had  overwhelmed 
and  buried  beneath  the  solid  phalanxes  of  trained 
soldiers,  the  fires  which  burned  in  the  breasts 
of  these  heroes,  but  history  had  halted  but  for 
the  moment,  for,  on  April  21st  of  the  same  year, 
the  forces  of  General  Santa  Anna  which  had 
stormed  and  conquered  the  Alamo,  went  to  irre- 
trievable and  lasting  defeat  before  the  untrained 
men  led  by  the  Texas  general,  Sam  Houston,  amid 
the  oak  groves  of  San  Jacinto.  Thus  were  the 
final  chapters  in  the  struggle  for  Texas  independ- 
ence written,  and  while  the  name  of  Houston 
will  always  shine  upon  the  walls  of  fame,  the 
Alamo,  with  Travis  and  his  indomitable  compan- 
ions, gloriously  sacrificed  upon  the  altar  of  a 
never-dying  patriotism,  is  eternally  enshrined 
within  the  minds  of  every  man,  woman  and  child 
who  has  lived,  and  still  lives,  with  a  knowledge 
of  their  martyrdom  and  the  cause  they  so  nobly 
and  so  unselfishly  represented. 

The  records  of  achievement  the  world  over  are 
strident  with  the  deeds  of  man.  Civilization  has 
builded  upon  human  effort  and  human  sacrifice. 
Heroes  are  not  alone  developed  upon  the  battle- 
field, nor  is  accomplishment  measured  by  for- 
tune's vagaries.  Truth  and  honor  live,  and  will 


Crockett,  "Silent"  Smith  and  Bowie. 


Planning  the  Revolt. 


always  light  the  heavens  of  thought  and  of  desire 
with  the  pure  and  abiding  beam  of  noble  enter- 
prise. Yet,  did  civilization  build  upon  the  blood 
shed  in  the  Alamo,  and  did  Texas  lift  from  the 
heel  of  the  despot  to  an  all-conquering  destiny 
and  with  open  arms  welcome  the  peoples  of  the 
earth  to  erect  their  rooftrees  upon  a  generous 
soil,  watered  with  the  tears  of  women  and  chil- 
dren, but  pregnant  with  the  promise  of  peace  and 
plenty. 

Travis  and  Crockett  did  not  die  in  vain,  for 
out  of  the  noise  of  battle,  from  the  bk  .dy  dust 
of  the  arena  has  risen  a  manhood  that  points 
with  pride  to  the  birth  of  an  independence  that 
shall  live  forever. 

Today  the  Alamo  looks  somberly  upon  the  plaza 
of  the  same  name,  in  beautiful  and  progressive 
San  Antonio.  Behind  the  screen  of  palms  gently 
swaying  to  the  winds  from  the  Mexican  Gulf, 
this  time-scarred  Mission  tells  its  own  story,  but 
peace,  and  prosperity,  and  content  smile  at  the 
worn  carvings  of  the  facade  and  at  the  cold 
stone  walls  of  the  ancient  abode  of  the  friars. 
While  the  ritual  of  Rome  long  since  ceased  to 
echo  within  the  crumbling  edifice,  the  faithful 
of  the  "Mission  City"  pay  devout  homage  to  its 
memories,  and  at  vespers,  the  whispering  zephyrs 
linger  for  the  solemn  tones  that  near  two  cen- 
turies since  awoke  the  echoes  of  the  spreading 
prairies,  calling  the  wandering  savage  to  the  new 
prayer  and  the  new  God. 


SAN  ANTONIO 


HAT  is  now  known  as  San 
Antonio  had  its  inception 
with  the  establishment  of 
the  Mission  San  Francisco 
de  Valero,  the  "Mission  of 
the  Alamo."  Originally  con- 
structed or  begun  in^l718, 
the  edifice  which  now 
arouses  the  interested  awe 
of  the  observer  was  built 
in  1744.  Prior,  however,  to 
the  first  date,  the  Spaniards 
out  of  Mexico  had  visited 
the  location,  then  the  camp 

of  a  great  Indian  tribe  which  had  settled  about 
the  beautiful  springs  now  known  as  San  Pedro. 
Under  a  kingly  charter  from  Ferdinand  of  Spain 
in  1689,  the  original  prospectus  of  San  Fernando 
was  conceived  and  later  established  upon  the 
west  bank  of  the  now  San  Antonio  river.  The 
Mission  San  Antonio  de  Valero  was  then  located 
on  the  east  bank,  and  administered  by  the  Fran- 
ciscan monks,  San  Fernando  being  held  by  the 
friars  of  Queretaro.  In  1736  the  Spanish  'mon- 
arch authorized  a  colony  sent  from  the  Canary 
Isles,  and  upon  the  arrival  of  this  party,  the 
two  locations  were  merged  under  the  name  of 
San  Antonio,  and  since  that  day  has  progressed, 
notwithstanding  the  vicissitudes  of  nearly  two 
hundred  years,  to  a  position  of  prominence  and 
distinctiveness  second  to  no  other  city  in  the 
great  Southwest. 

Originally  established  to  carry  the  voice  of 
Christianity  to  the  hearts  and  souls  of  the  won- 
dering and  untutored  savage,  as  well  as  to  more 
firmly  plant  the  golden  lion  of  Castile  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  advancing  prestige  of  the  French 
marching  through  the  savannahs  and  lowlands 
of  Louisiana,  the  Alamo  and  its  sister  Missions, 
which  still  mark  time  in  the  changing  years, 
have  served  to  centralize  civilization  and  estab- 
lish the  homes  of  a  thriving  populace  where  once 


"Let  every  man  who  will  stay  and  die  with  me, 
cross  the  line." — Travis. 


And  the  Last  One  Perished.' 


only  the  smoke  of  the  tepee  and  the  shrill  cry 
of  the  desert  dog  marked  occupation. 

San  Antonio  has  witnessed  the  winds  flaunt  the 
flags  of  six  governments  to  the  heavens — the 
insignia  of  Spain,  the  Lily  of  France,  the  Serpent 
of  Mexico,  the  Star  of  Texas,  the  bars  of  the 
Confederacy,  and  the  Stars  and  Stripes  of  a 
united  country.  History,  tradition,  love  and  ven- 
eration, have  each  contributed  to  the  develop- 
ment of  San  Antonio,  which  today  while  no  less 
inspired  by  a  wonderful  record,  throws  open  its 
doors  and  invites  the  world  to  lift  the  latch  string 
and  partake  of  its  always  generous  hospitality 
and  welcome,  and  that  within  a  metropolis  which 
typifies  enterprise,  energy,  progress,  and  man's 
attainment.  It  is  a  city  of  sentiment,  of  material 
development,  of  wealth,  of  industrial  accomplish- 
ment. It  possesses  every  feature  and  concomi- 
tant of  a  strenuous  and  up-to-date  civilization, 
as  manifested  by  its  wonderful  natural  advant- 
ages and  commercial  development.  Its  parks, 
roadways,  streets,  buildings,  climate,  environ- 
ments, and  above  all,  its  citizenship,  conspire  to 
create  an  entity  that  is  alluring  in  the  extreme, 
and  which  offers  every  advantage  to  the  indi- 
vidual seeking  the  pleasures  of  a  handsome 
resort  city  or  the  opportunity  of  becoming  profit- 
ably identified  with  its  business  life  and  a  part 
of  the  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand 
souls  who  now  live  with  reasonable  happiness 
and  content  within  its  rapidly  extending  con- 
fines. 


*"  I 


PUBLIC  BUILDINGS 

.AN  ANTONIO  is  nothing  if 
not  enterprising  and  pro- 
gressive, and  much  local 
money  has  gone  into  hand- 
some edifices  of  varying 
character.  The  city  has 
eighteen  public  buildings 
and  sixty-seven  churches 
and  chapels,  many  of  them 
of  fine  design,  and  several 
of  the  latter  both  architec- 
turally and  historically  in- 
teresting. 

The  postoffice  and  Feder- 
al building  is  of  remarkably  handsome  *vpe  and 
generally  admired. 

The  Court  House,  situated  on  Main  Plaza,  is 
also  a  very  imposing  structure,  and  its  admirable 
architectural  qualities  have  been  widely  com- 
mented on.  The  City  Hall,  on  Military  Plaza, 
has  also  a  distinctive  beauty  as  well  as  useful- 
ness. 

In  the  Market  House  San  Antonio  has  another 
public  building  that  furnishes  not  only  a  sanitary 
market,  but  the  second  floor  is  a  large  convention 
hall  capable  of  seating  three  thousand  people. 

The  Carnegie  Library  is  a  handsome  building, 
erected  in  1903  through  the  generosity  of  Andrew 
Carnegie  at  a  cost  of  $50,000.  In  1906  a  second 
gift  of  $20,000  was  made,  which  has  been  ex- 
pended in  building  an  auditorium  adjoining  the 
library.  The  library  has  now  more  than  25,000 
volumes. 

Churches,  practically  of  all  denominations,  are 
found  in  San  Antonio,  many  of  them  handsome 
structures  made  doubly  attractive  by  vines, 
shrubs  and  flowers.  The  stranger  in  San  An- 
tonio will  find  people  of  his  own  faith  and  a 
hearty  welcome  in  the  place  of  worship. 

San  Antonio  has  129  secret  societies,  including 
all  of  the  leading  orders  known  to  the  United 
States.  A  number  of  these  are  strong  enough  to 


Mexican  Rule. 


Alamo   Plaza. 


own  their  own  homes,  and  especially  may  be 
mentioned  the  Odd  Fellows,  Woodmen  of  the 
World,  the  Masons,  who  have  erected  a  hand- 
some temple  at  the  corner  of  Losoya  and  Crockett 
Streets;  the  Elks,  who  have  a  splendid  three- 
story  club  house  on  Avenue  E,  just  in  the  rear  of 
the  Postoffice,  erected  at  a  cost  of  $50,000,  and 
the  Hermann  Sons,  who  recently  completed  a 
fine  building  on  Garden  Street,  costing  about 
$60,000,  which  is  the  State  home  of  the  order. 
These  three  buildings  are  among  the  handsomest 
of  their  kind  in  the  South. 

During  the  past  five  years  San  Antonio  has 
expended  nearly  $15,000,000  for  buildings  of  all 
descriptions,  and  the  progress  so  indicated  is 
being  stimulated  by  the  expenditure  during  1915 
and  1916  of  several  millions  of  dollars  raised 
through  bond  issues  and  utilized  for  streets,  sew- 
ers, sidewalks,  bridges,  county  roads,  schools  and 
other  public  improvements. 

Added  to  this  is  some  $3,000,000  being  spent 
by  the  public  service  corporations  for  paving 
and  extension  of  utilities. 

Several  important  business  thoroughfares  have 
been  widened  at  heavy  cost — notably  Commerce, 
in  the  very  heart  of  the  city,  all  of  the  business 
buildings  being  either  moved  back  some  twenty 
feet  or  cut  off  and  reconstructed.  Other  material 
civic  improvements  of  similar  character  are  now 
being  consummated  and  in  which  the  value  of 
property  taken  and  destroyed  was  nearly  a  quar- 
ter of  a  million  dollars. 

The  public  spirit  of  the  San  Antonio  people 
was  never  more  in  evidence  than  in  this  most 
commendable  work. 


THE  PLAZAS 

HE  originality  of  the  Dons 
who  first  established  the 
limits  of  San  Antonio  was 
no  better  exemplified  than 
in  the  location  of  the  many 
breathing  places  or  "plazas'* 
which  dot  the  present  city, 
many  of  them  of  course 
having  been  added  during 
the  past  twenty  years. 
Twenty-three  parks  afford 
fine  opportunity  for  a  grow- 
ing population  and  make 
out-of-door  life  a  matter  of 
easy  accomplishment  and  of  pleasing  variety. 

The  most  lovely  and  extensive  is  Brackenridge 
Park,  formed  by  improving  the  natural  surround- 
ings of  the  San  Antonio  River,  where  it  flows 
between  wooded  banks,  its  water  reinforced  by 
a  series  of  natural  springs.  Great  live  oaks,  pe- 
cans and  cottonwopds  forest  the  parks,  and  beau- 
tiful driveways  wind  through  the  full  two  hun- 
dred acres  comprising  the  same.  Herds  of  elk, 
buffalo  and  other  animals,  give  pleasing  variety 
to  the  park,  which,  liberally  endowed  by  Nature, 
has  been  further  beautified  by  the  park  commis- 
sion. 

The  plazas,  or  open  squares,  have  been  well 
planted  in  flowering  shrubs,  palms  and  other 
semi-tropical  products.  Pomegranates,  yucca, 
cactus,  myrtle  and  pampas  grass  provide  a  luxu- 
riant vegetation  of  pleasing  variety  and  of  never- 
ending  interest  to  visitors,  particularly  on  winter 
days  when  the  invigorating  sunshine  makes  the 
outdoors  desirable. 

The  most  attractive  of  these  numerous  small 
parks  are  the  Alamo  Plaza,  Main  Plaza,  on  which 
fronts  the  historic  Cathedral  of  San  Fernando 
and  the  Bexar  County  Court  House;  Military 
Plaza,  in  the  center  of  which  is  the  beautiful  City 
Hall;  Travis  Square,  where  is  located  the  Con- 
federate monument. 

San  Pedro  Park  and  Springs,  in  the  center  of 
the  residence  section,  includes  some  forty  acres, 


Main  Plaza. 


The  New  Commerce  Street. 


splendidly  wooded.  The  giant  springs  gush  from 
the  tree  Voots,  cold,  clear  crystal.  The  lovely 
grove  was  first  settled  by  the  ancient  Indian 
tribes  and  later  by  the  early  Spanish,  who  were 
succeeded  by  the  first  Texas  settlers.  War  and 
rumors  of  war  oft  disturbed  this  sylvan  glade, 
but  today  peace  sings  in  the  twittering  of  birds 
and  the  cries  of  happy  childhood. 

"In  the  Spring  the  young  man's  fancy  lightly 
turns  to  thoughts  of  love,"  and  in  the  Spring 
San  Antonio  blossoms  like  the  rose  until  every 
yard  is  a  garden  and  every  garden  a  bower. 

Recent  developments  in  the  roads  leading  put 
of  San  Antonio  into  the  country  have  vastly  im- 
proved the  situation  from  the  standpoint  of  the 
motorist.  Many  of  the  roads,  including  the  cele- 
brated "loop"  or  Mission  pike,  are  hard  sur- 
faced, making  them  ideal  for  motoring  or  riding. 
Over  185  miles  of  these  country  roadways  radi- 
ate from  the  city  in  every  direction,  touching 
all  suburban  points  of  interest  and  traversing 
farm  and  prairie  sections,  touching  the  hot  sul- 
phur wells  and  baths.  To  the  north  these  ave- 
nues ascend  by  easy  grades  to  the  mountains 
and  to  the  17,000-acre  government  reservation 
near  Leon  Springs,  recently  acquired  by  the  Gov- 
ernment as  a  target  range  and  schooling  place 
for  new  troops.  The  scenery  is  always  interest- 
ing and  attractive,  and  the  environment  in  every 
direction  pleasing. 

A  new  motor  road  is  being  developed  to  Medina 
Lake,  while  southwards  the  way  is  easy  to  the 
gulf  coast  with  its  several  water  resorts  and  their 
attending  hunting,  fishing  and  boating. 


FORT  SAM  HOUSTON 

N  Fort  Sam  Houston,  the  sec- 
ond largest  army  post  in  the 
United  States,  visitors  find 
a  never  failing  source  of  in- 
terest. Here  the  bugle's 
shrill  clarion,  the  roll  of 
drums,  and  the  tramp  of 
armed  men  reproduce  the 
picturesque  pageantry  of 
war  without  any  of  its  dis- 
agreeable features.  Fort 

Sam  Houston,  in  1870,  embraced  a  tract  of  40 
acres.  This  has  been  increased  from  time  to  time 
until  it  is  now  944  acres,  and  the  Government  has 
just  contracted  to  buy  an  additional  310  acres,  a 
portion  of  a  660-acre  tract  that  has  been  held  by 
the  Government  under  lease. 

The  buildings  and  grounds  represent  an  in- 
vestment of  approximately  $7,214,500.  During 
the  fiscal  year  1911  the  improvements  approxi- 
mated $414,501,  included  in  the  total  investment 
just  set  out,  and  improvements  approximating 
$50,000  have  been  completed  during  1912  or  are 
under  way.  The  post  was  enlarged  to  a  brigade 
post  two  years  ago  and  the  development  of  the 
last  two  years  makes  the  post  the  largest  in  the 
United  States. 

As  a  brigade  post,  the  garrison  consists  of  one 
regiment  of  infantry,  one  regiment  of  cavalry, 
three  field  batteries  and  two  squads  of  the  signal 
corps,  comprising  altogether  between  3,500  and 
4,000  men  with  a  monthly  payroll  of  $225,000, 
but  the  companies  are  usually  distributed  among 
several  smaller  posts  in  Texas  so  that  the  ordi- 
nary garrison  here  consists  of  132  officers  and 
2,212  enlisted  men. 


Part  of  Quadrangle,  Fort  Sam  Houston. 


1 


Drill  Ground,  Fort  Sam  Houston. 


It  is  the  great  military  center  for  the  Southwest, 
and  its  close  proximity  to  the  Mexican  border  has 
on  several  occasions  been  the  scene  of  great  activ- 
ity. The  commissary  and  ordnance  branches  be- 
ing especially  in  demand. 

The  Headquarters  of  the  Department  of  Texas 
is  maintained  here.  The  fort  is  splendidly  sit- 
uated on  Government  Hill,  a  beautiful  rolling 
plateau  which  commands  the  city  and  surround- 
ings. 

All  departments  of  the  service  are  represented 
— infantry,  cavalry  and  artillery — including  an 
aerial  squad.  Many  handsome  buildings  are  a 
feature  of  the  Post,  which  is  considered  one  of 
the  handsomest  and  most  desirable  in  the  coun- 
tryC 

Mondays,  Wednesday  and  Fridays  at  4:30  p.  m. 
a  dress  parade  and  review  is  held  at  the  Post, 
to  which  the  public  is  always  welcomed,  and 
which  is  always  well  attended.  Practically  all 
of  the  well  known  army  officers  have  been  locat- 
ed at  Fort  Sam  Houston  during  their  military 

/^oToor- 


Jf 

^     '  ^        '  S 

Post"   has    always 


career. 

As   a   social    adjunct,   the 

played  an  important  part  in  San  Antonio's  ex- 
istence, and  the  recent  Mexican  situation  has 
contributed  largely  to  the  development  of  the 
always  interesting  location. 


MEDICINAL  AND  HOT  WELLS 

AN  ANTONIO  has  gained  con- 
siderable fame  in  her  pos- 
session of  several  hot  sul- 
phur wells  of  remarkable 
curative  and  medicinal 
properties.  This  water 
comes  from  a  very  deep 
stratum  and  was  discovered 
several  years  ago,  the  prod- 
uct apparently  varying  in 
constituents — there  being 
twelve  or  thirteen  different  mineral  waters,  with 
properties  well  established  both  by  analysis  and 
experience. 

The  Hot  Wells  Hotel  and  Bath  House  is  located 
within  easy  reach  of  the  center  of  the  city  both 
by  electric  car  and  auto  road.  The  hotel  is  situ- 
ated in  the  heart  of  a  natural  park  of  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  oak  and  pecan.  The  buildings  are 
well  constructed  and  comfortable,  and  the  man- 
agement has  completed  a  good  nine-hole  golf 
course.  Quite  near  is  the  "Second"  Mission  of 
San  Jose,  and  also  the  ostrich  farm. 

The  Harlandale  Hot  Sulphur  Well  is  located 
three  miles  from  the  center  of  the  city,  and  is 
reached  by  street  car  and  good  roads.  The  sul- 
phur water  is  obtained  at  a  depth  of  2100  feet 
and  flows  about  500  gallons  a  minute.  A  hand- 
some and  thoroughly  equipped  bath  house  pro- 
vides, in  addition  to  the  regular  tub  baths,  Turk- 
ish, Russian,  Roman,  electric  and  mud  baths. 
Steam  and  vapor  rooms  of  varying  temperatures, 
showers,  massage,  cooling,  lounging,  and  recep- 
tion rooms  furnish  complete  and  luxurious  equip- 
ment. 


San  Antonio  River. 


Terrell  Hot  Well,  located  about  five  miles  from 
the  center  of  San  Antonio,  at  the  townsite  known 
as  San  Jose,  has  also  established  a  reputation 
for  remarkable  curative  powers.  It  is  easily 
reached  by  street  car.  The  buildings  are  essen- 
tially modern  as  are  the  bathing  appliances  and 
treatment.  A  fine  open  air  bathing  pool  is  a 
feature  of  the  location  and  an  attractive  Inn  is 
adequate  to  care  for  persons  wishing  to  remain 
in  the  neighborhood. 

The  baths  and  mineral  waters  have  proved  of 
great  curative  value  for  rheumatism,  gout,  sciatica 
and  diseases  of  the  stomach,  liver  and  kidneys. 
They  are  efficacious  for  skin  and  blood  diseases; 
nervous  disorders,  and  have  tonic  and  stimulative 
power.  Also  for  neuritis,  eczema  and  some  forms 
of  blood  pressure. 

Close  to  San  Antonio  are  also  the  mineral  wells 
of  Sutherland  Springs,  where  seven  distinct  wa- 
ters may  be  found,  each  of  which  differs  in  cura 
live  properties. 


™  *t\  llt'h: 


>•<>• '•;•.;•;/  •:  > 


'  -2S*3 


13 


CLIMATE 


HE  climate  of  San  Antonio  is 
altogether    delightful.      The 
atmosphere  is  dry  and  brac- 
ing, possessing  a  high  per- 
centage    of     ozone     which 
makes  it  invigorating.     One 
may  ride  and  drive  in  Jan- 
uary,   and    furs    and   heavy 
outer  wraps  are  rarely  need- 
ed.     Vegetables    and    fruits 
grow  in  the  winter  months. 
The  average  of  the  winter  temperature  is  54  de- 
grees;  the  average  of  the  spring  temperature  is 
69  degrees,  and  of  the  fall  months  70  degrees.  The 
mean  annual  rainfall  is  28.7  inches,  and  the  pre- 
vailing direction  of  the  winds  is  southeast  with 
an  average  hourly  velocity  of  7.4  miles.     These 
are  the  correct  official  figures  as  furnished  by  the 
United  States  Weather  Bureau  at  San  Antonio. 

One  will  not  suffer  from  malaria  or  fevers  at 
San  Antonio,  which  is,  by  official  statistics,  one 
of  the  healthiest,  if  not  the  healthiest,  of  cities 
in  the  United  States.  Among  the  native  born  one 
almost  never  encounters  pneumonia,  bronchitis 
or  pulmonary  troubles.  The  climate  is  indeed 
strongly  recommended  for  moderate  sufferers 
from  these  diseases  who,  with  reasonable  care 
and  open  air  life,  are  always  benefited,  as  numer- 
ous visitors  can  testify,  returning  season  after  sea- 
son to  enjoy  the  blessing  Nature  provides. 

RELIGION  AND  SCHOOLS 

San  Antonio  is  also  an  educational  center  of  im- 
portance. It  has  34  public  schools,  representing 
an  investment  of  a  million  dollars;  45  private 
schools  representing  an  investment  of  two  million 
dollars.  The  scholastic  population  of  the  city, 


Breckenridge  Park. 
14 


Hot  Wells  Park. 


based  on  the  public  schools,  is  22,983.  Students 
come  to  San  Antonio  schools  from  all  over  the 
Southwest.  Formerly  a  large  contingent  came 
from  Mexico,  which  with  the  restoration  of  peace 
in  that  country,  no  doubt,  will  be  resumed.  A  Car- 
negie library  on  Market  Street,  a  model  institution 
of  its  kind,  offers  facilities  for  the  fiction  reader 
and  the  research  student. 

Practically  all  of  the  religious  denominations 
are  represented  in  San  Antonio  and  the  city  is 
blessed  with  beautiful  houses  of  worship,  and 
the  moral  tone  of  the  city  is  excellent.  The  peo- 
ple without  being  bigo'ted  are  representative,  de- 
cent, clean-living  Americans.  Strangers  are  al- 
ways welcome  in  the  San  Antonio  churches. 

San  Antonio  does  not  neglect  the  opportunity 
for  entertainment  and  has  provided  facilities  for 
this  chapter  of  city  life  that  are  not  excelled  by 
any  of  its  sister  communities.  An  excellent  opera 
house  in  which  the  spoken  drama  is  presented,  is 
supplemented  by  several  of  the  handsomest  mov- 
ing picture  houses  in  the  South,  and  in  addition 
thereto  a  fine  theatre  devoted  to  a  circuit  of  vaude- 
ville attractions. 

The  San  Antonio  Music  Festival  Association, 
the  Symphony  Orchestra,  present  during  the  cool- 
er months  programs  of  merit  and  a  high  state  of 
histrionical  excellence. 


SAN  ANTONIO  CLUBS 

HE  citizens  of  San  Antonio 
are  warm  hearted  and  hos- 
pitable, and  this  phase  is 
evidenced  by  the  extent  of 
the  club  life  of  the  lovely 
city  and  by  the  character  of 
the  many  buildings  which 
have  of  recent  years  arisen 
to  care  for  the  development 
of  this  community  idea. 

Among  these  may  be  men- 
tioned the  Casino,  which  has  an  attractive  build- 
ing of  its  own  in  the  heart  of  the  city.  The 
Country  Club,  which  will  compare  favorably  with 
any  of  the  clubs  the  country  over,  owns  a  magnifi- 
cent building  on  the  very  edge  of  the  city,  beauti- 
fully situated  and  supplied  with  every  feature  of 
club  life  calculated  to  make  its  membership  and 
visitors  thoroughly  satisfied  with  life. 

The  Travis  Club  is  said  to  be  the  largest  city 
club  in  Texas,  and  unquestionably  has  the  finest 
building  of  any  such  institution  in  the  Southwest. 
Its  home  is  a  splendid  eight-story  structure  with 
a  roof  garden,  swimming  pools,  gymnasium,  pub- 
lic and  private  dining  rooms  and  cafes,  library, 
living  rooms  and  a  club  service  unexcelled.  Vis- 
itors to  the  city  will  have  no  difficulty  in  secur- 
ing cards  to  the  club  or  non-resident  member 
cards  for  the  winter  months.  The  club  has  many 
social  entertainments  and  is  largely  patronized 
by  the  wives  of  members. 

Of  the  clubs  maintained  by  the  German-Ameri- 
cans of  San  Antonio,  the  Casino  has  its  own  build- 
ing near  the  center  of  the  city  and  is  famous 
for  its  open  handed  hospitality  and  its  wonderful 
New  Year's  Ball.  The  Beethoven  Society  has  just 


San  Antonio  City  Hall. 


rebuilt  its  club  house  on  South  Alamo  Street; 
it  has  a  very  large  auditorium  and  social  enter- 
tainments as  well  as  theatrical  engagements  are 
staged  there.  Turner  Hall,  the  home  of  the  Turn 
Verein,  is  a  handsome  brick  structure,  also  cen- 
trally located,  with  an  excellent  gymnasium,  ball 
room,  assembly  rooms,  etc.  The  Hermann  Sons 
have  built  a  handsome  new  house  on  Garden 
Street,  which  is  equipped  with  all  modern  ap- 
pliances. 

Of  the  secret  societies,  the  Benevolent  Order 
of  Elks  maintain  a  club  house,  the  Masons  have  a 
Temple,  and  the  Odd  Fellows  also  have  their  own 
home,  and  the  Woodmen  of  the  World  have  a 
handsome  home. 

One  of  the  most  attractive  clubs  of  San  An- 
tonio is  that  of  the  San  Antonio  Automobile  Club, 
which  organization  has  a  membership  of  about 
eight  hundred  and  maintains  a  handsome  club 
house  on  the  North  Loop  about  ten  or  twelve 
miles  from  town.  Its  grounds  are  beautiful  and 
it  is  one  of  the  social  centers  of  the  city.  The 
Automobile  Club  also  maintains  a  branch  at  the 
Medina  Lake  and  under  its  auspices  from  time 
to  time  regattas  and  aquatic  sports  are  held  at  the 
Lake. 


MEDINA  LAKE 

O  CITY  in  America  possesses 
a  playground  that  can  sur- 
pass Medina  Lake  in  attrac- 
tive features.  This  magnifi- 
cent body  of  water,  which 
is  about  the  same  size  as 
Lake  George  and  similar  in 
shape,  some  seventeen  to 
twenty  miles  in  length  by 
from  one-half  a  mile  to  four 
miles  in  width,  is  impound- 
ed by  the  Medina  Dam,  a  massive  concrete  struc- 
ture 168  feet  high.  The  Dam  was  built  by  a  com- 
pany capitalized  at  $8,000,000.00,  chiefly  English 
capital,  for  irrigation  purposes.  This  company 
and  its  subsidiary  allies  own  60,000  acres  of 
land.  This  is  the  largest  irrigation  project,  ex- 
cluding one  or  two  subsidized  by  the  Govern- 
ment, that  exists  in  America  today.  Its  diver- 
sion dam  and  lake,  four  miles  below  the  main 
dam,  its  main  ditch  and  flumes  and  laterals  are 
monuments  of  engineering  skill  and  objects  of 
great  interest. 

This  lake  is  large  enough  for  sail  boats.  On 
it  are  maintained  a  number  of  house  boats,  a  reg- 
ular flotilla  of  motor  boats,  skiffs  and  canoes.  A 
line  of  small  excursion  steamers  is  projected  and 
a  bathing  beach  is  being  developed  there.  The 
San  Antonio  Automobile  Club  maintains  a  branch 
tavern  at  the  lake  and  plans  are  under  way  to 
build  an  interurban  line  to  the  lake,  to  put  up 
an  attractive  rustic  hotel  of  fifty  or  sixty  rooms 
and  develop  the  resort  features  for  both  winter 
and  summer.  A  fine  automobile  road  from  San 
Antonio  to  the  lake  is  now  under  construction. 


Medina  Lake. 


The  great  feature  of  the  lake,  however,  is  the 
fishing.  It  has  been  stocked  with  fish  by  the 
United  States  Government  and  expert  anglers 
from  all  over  Texas  declare  unanimously  that  it 
is  the  best  fishing  place  in  the  State.  Big  mouth 
black  bass  abound  and  it  is  no  unusual  thing  for 
a  single  fisherman  to  catch  fifteen  to  twenty 
pounds  of  bass  in  two  or  three  hours'  fishing. 

The  place  is  one  of  great  natural  beauty,  as 
the  lake  is  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  mountains 
which  generally  are  vivid  blue,  and  the  water 
being  blue  with  purple  shadows  when  the  clouds 
float  is  rarely  beautiful.  The  elevation  being  be- 
tween 1100  and  1200  feet  it  is  generally  pleasant 
in  summer  and  nights  are  delightfully  cool.  In 
season  the  inlets  where  creeks  flow  into  the  lake 
furnish  places  for  hundreds  of  wild  duck  and 
the  sport  of  duck  shooting,  quail  hunting,  wild 
deer  and  turkey  hunting,  make  this  a  sportsman's 
paradise. 

In  the  mountains  west  of  San  Antonio  the  more 
hardy  sportsman  may  also  indulge  in  the  chase 
of  the  bear,  wild  cat  and  other  predatory  animals. 

\ 

/ 


OUT-OF-DOOR  SPORTS 


AN  ANTONIO  is  a  golfing  cen- 
ter and  games  can  be  played 
almost  every  day  in  the 
year.  At  the  San  Antonio 
Country  Club,  a  twenty-min- 
ute ride  from  the  center  of 
the  city,  there  is  an  eigh- 
teen-hole  golf  course  as 
good  as  any  in  the  country. 
The  greens  are  especially 
smooth  and  well  kept  and 

the  fair  way  is  in  excellent  condition.  While 
this  is  the  usual  Country  Club  with  an  exclusive 
membership,  visiting  golfers,  by  showing  their 
membership  cards  in  other  clubs,  through  ar- 
rangements with  the  several  hotels  or  the  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce,  can  get  the  privilege  of  playing 
on  these  links  under  the  usual  conditions. 

At  the  Hot  Wells  Hotel,  four  miles  from  the 
center  of  the  city  to  the  South,  an  excellent  nine- 
hole  golf  course  is  being  perfected,  which  is 
semi-public  in  character,  and  visiting  golfers  can 
secure  privileges  here  also.  This  course  prom- 
ises to  be  very  fine,  as  it  crosses  and  re-crosses 
the  picturesque  San  Antorilo  River  and  is  in 
sight  of  the  famous  Second  Mission.  The  Hui- 
sache  Golf  Club  on  Laurel  Heights,  also  a  semi- 
public  course,  has  a  five-hole  field,  and  a  magnifi- 
cent eighteen-hole  course  is  being  developed  by 
the  city  in  Brackenridge  Park,  to  be  known  as 
the  "Municipal  Links." 

At  Fort  Sam  Houston  there  is  maintained  a 
splendid  polo  field,  and  these  stirring  and  excit- 
ing games  are  a  part  of  the  regular  training  of 
the  officers  located  at  the  Post.  Visitors  who 
care  for  this  energetic  sport  are  cordially  wel- 
comed by  the  men  of  the  army,  and  as  many  polo 
ponies  are  raised  and  trained  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  city,  there  is  usually  little  difficulty  in  secur- 
ing proper  mounts. 


A   Day's   Sport  in  the  Gulf,   South  of 
Antonio. 
20 


Southern  Pacific  San  Antonio  Depot. 


The  Country  Club  has  developed  several  fine 
tennis  courts  and  these  outdoor  facilities  are  also 
promised  as  a  feature  of  the  Hot  Wells  Hotel, 
while  it  is  expected  they  will  also  be  provided 
at  one  or  two  of  the  city  parks. 

FOR  ROD  AND  GUN 

There  is  much  fine  sport  to  be  had  within  a  few 
hours'  ride  of  San  Antonio  in  quail  hunting.  The 
management  at  the  hotels  and  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce  can  give  the  visitors  complete  direc- 
tions in  these  matters.  In  addition  to  the  quail, 
doves,  squirrels  and  rabbits  are  to  be  found  in 
great  abundance.  From  fifty  to  one  hundred 
miles  of  the  city  excellent  deer  hunting  and  num- 
erous wild  turkeys  can  be  had.  Special  arrange- 
ments can  easily  be  made  for  hunting  privileges 
on  certain  ranches  and  with  due  notice  guides 
and  equipment  can  be  arranged  for. 

In  addition  to  the  duck  hunting  and  fishing  on 
the  lakes,  a  night's  ride  to  Rockport,  Aransas  Pass 
and  Corpus  Christi  will  bring  the  visitor  to  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  where  he  will  find  ducks  of  every 
variety,  wild  geese,  brant,  and  other  water  fowls, 
and  the  deep  sea  fishing  cannot  be  surpassed 
anywhere.  In  this,  too,  the  hotel  management  or 
the  Chamber  of  Commerce  will  be  glad  to  furnish 
detailed  information  showing  the  names  of  the 
resorts,  boat  owners  and  guides  and  any  other 
facts  that  a  sportsman  must  know  in  going  in 
new  country. 


FOR  THE  TOURIST 


OCATED  in  one  of  the  health- 
iest sections  of  Southwest- 
ern United  States,  San  An- 
tonio is  particularly  well 
situated  from  the  standpoint 
of  the  man  or  woman  who 
seeks  recreation  in  the  open 
air  and  a  life  free  from  the 
restrictions  imposed  by  less 
favored  cities. 

In  every  direction  the 
breeze-swept  plains  stretch 
to  the  horizon.  Gently  roll- 
ing, to  the  south  they  find 

their  way  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  its  warm 
green  waters.  Westward,  with  gradually  increas- 
ing elevation,  they  merge  into  the  dry,  treeless 
areas  which  form  the  American  bank  of  the  Rio 
Grande.  In  the  north  the  blue  of  the  mountains 
marks  the  boundary  line,  and  east  the  prairie 
drifts  again  to  the  sands  of  the  Gulf  through  the 
great  cotton,  corn  and  rice  fields  of  the  coastal 
plains.  The  mesquite  savannahs  please  the  eye 
with  their  feathery  foliage,  and  in  the  spring 
the  scent  of  the  yellow  blossomed  huisache  fills 
the  air  with  a  sweetness  that  is  like  no  other 
sweetness,  while  the  stiff  leaves  of  the  yucca 
rattle  in  the  early  winds,  and  the  pheasant  and 
bob  white  run  riot  among  the  purple-fruited  cac- 
tus which  is  in  evidence  everywhere. 

The  river  beds,  more  often  dry  than  running, 
are  lined  with  cottonwoods  and  the  precious  pe- 
can of  commerce.  The  spring-fed  creeks  are 
luxurious  with  a  dense  vegetation  and,  radiating 
in  all  directions,  excellent  roadways  make  travel 
easy  and  pleasant. 

San  Antonio  has  been  the  most  important  of 
the  gateways  to  Mexico  for  many  years.  The 
Southern  Pacific,  operating  via  Spofford  and 
Eagle  Pass,  and  via  El  Paso,  has  brought  the  sister 
republic  into  close  touch  with  San  Antonio,  and 
hence  the  Mexican  element  injected  into  the 
population  of  the  city  is  just  sufficient  to  give  a 
pleasing  variety  and  distinctiveness  that  is  in 


Residence   Section. 
29 


Gunter  Hotel. 


harmony  with  the  surroundings  and  a  somewhat 
picturesque  individuality. 

Opportunity  for  golf,  polo  and  kindred  sports 
is  much  in  evidence,  and  these  features  of  San 
Antonio  life  are  not  neglected  by  the  energetic 
visitor.  Deer  are  still  numerous  in  the  mesquite 
and  chapparel  while  the  several  coast  resorts, 
tributary  to  the  attractive  metropolis,  afford 
splendid  fishing,  boating  and  bathing.  The  finest 
tarpon  fishing  location  in  America  is  only  a  half 
day  run  from  San  Antonio,  and  here  also,  in 
proper  season,  is  to  be  found  possibly  the  best 
duck  shooting  grounds  on  the  coast.  The  Me- 
dina Dam  and  Lake  is  a  nearer  attraction.  This 
lake  has  been  well  stocked  with  black  bass  and 
the  intelligent  angler  is  always  sure  of  a  good 
day's  sport  at  this  wonderfully  beautiful  sheet 
of  water  which  rivals  its  more  pretentious  arti- 
ficial lakes  of  the  great  West.  A  new  club  house 
is  a  projected  feature  at  Medina  Lake  and  motor 
roads  to  the  resort  will  soon  make  the  forty-odd- 
mile  trip  one  of  extreme  enjoyment. 

Hot  sulphur  waters  with  fine  curative  proper- 
ties abound,  and  several  bath  houses,  attractive 
and  sanitary,  provide  necessary  facilities  within 
the  city  proper. 

The  proximity  of  the  army  post,  Fort  Sam 
Houston,  with  its  military  features,  drills,  hops 
and  dress  parades,  is  not  the  least  of  San  An- 
tonio's attractions,  as  the  Post  is  always  in  evi- 
dence so  far  as  the  visitor  is  concerned,  and 
much  frequented  by  the  San  Antonio  people. 

I*' 


COMMERCIAL  SAN  ANTONIO 


HE  day  was,  and  not  so  many 
years  since,  when  San  An- 
tonio was  a  frontier  city, 
the  half-way  house  between 
the  effete  East  and  the  cow- 
boy and  sombrero-covered 
hidalgo  of  Mexico.  Today 
it  is  one  of  the  prosperous 
and  constantly  growing 
cities  of  the  Southwest,  the 
center  of  a  great  trade,  and 
a  distributing  point  of  splen- 
did dimensions. 

Two  fine  daily  newspa- 
pers are  features  of  its  progress,  and  over  two 
hundred  industrial  plants  have  established  a  most 
respectable  pay  roll.  Up-to-date  business  houses 
show  retail  products  equally  up-to-date,  compar- 
ing favorably  with  the  shops  of  the  biggest  cities 
of  the  country. 

The  jobbing  or  wholesale  houses  are  equally 
alert  and  progressive  in  their  various  lines,  they 
being  thoroughly  representative  and  operating 
in  a  territory  as  large  as  the  State  of  Ohio. 

The  wholesale  trade  of  the  city  is  valued  at 
$100,000,000  annually. 

San  Antonio  has  seven  national  banks,  three 
State  banks,  one  of  which  does  a  trust  company 
business,  three  additional  trust  companies  and 
four  private  banks.  The  combined  capital  of  the 
State  and  national  banks  is  $4,050,000;  their  com- 
bined deposits  averaging  about  $25,000,000.  The 
pay  rolls  of  the  manufactories  amount  to  $5,500,- 
000  each  year  with  an  annual  product  of  over 
$35,000,000. 

With  less  than  fifteen  per  cent,  of  its  territory 
producing,  yet  this  territory  has  an  assessed  val- 
uation of  nearly  three  hundred  million  dollars, 
with  farm  products,  including  stock,  having  a 
value  of  approximately  $65,000,000.  The  city 
proper  for  1914  shows  an  assessment  of  $96,233,- 
000,  with  an  estimated  population  of  125,000. 


Menger  Hotel,   Loggia. 
24 


lony  Hotel. 


ANTONIO  HOTELS 


Few  cities  of  the  South  have  so  splendidly  de- 
veloped their  hotel  facilities  as  has  San  Antonio, 
for,  while  it  has  always  possessed  accommoda- 
tions of  a  really  superior  character,  the  past  few 
years  have  witnessed  the  establishment  of  several 
thoroughly  up-to-date,  modern  hostelries  of  pro- 
portions and  equipment  sufficient  to  meet  all  pos- 
sible demands. 

The  most  notable  of  these  are  the  St.  Anthony 
and  the  Gunter,  erected  each  at  a  cost  of  from 
$500,000  to  $600,000.  At  the  end  of  the  first  set- 
son's  operation  the  capacity  of  both  hotels  was 
increased  materially,  bringing  the  investment  of 
each  close  to  one  million  dollars.  The  old  favor- 
ite hotel,  the  "Menger,"  has  also  been  improved 
by  the  expenditure  of  a  large  sum,  and  these 
three  establishments,  together  with  a  number  of 
smaller  hotels,  of  which  the  Travelers',  Crockett, 
Maverick,  Hutchins,  Bexar,  Imperial,  Nueces,  and 
Losoya  are  excellent  examples,  thoroughly  equip 
the  city  for  all  possible  contingencies.  Numerous 
restaurants  and  cafes,  whose  cuisine  is  as  varied 
as  anyone  might  wish,  provide  also  for  the  trai 
sient  visitor. 


he  tran- 


AS  A  RAILROAD  CENTER 

OUR  trunk  lines  of  railroad 
enter  and  pass  through  San 
Antonio.  Chief  of  these  is 
the  Southern  Pacific,  Sunset 
Route,  traversing  the  won- 
derful territory  between 
New  Orleans  and  Portland, 
Oregon. 

This    magnificent    system 
is  the  direct  line  from  the 
northern      Atlantic      cities, 
connecting  at  New  Orleans 
with       carriers       operating 
through   cars   from    all    im- 
portant centers  in  the  East,  and  also  the  Chicago, 
St.  Louis  and  Cincinnati  territory. 

For  years  this  system  has  recognized  the  im- 
portance of  San  Antonio  from  a  standpoint  of 
commerce  and  also  because  of  the  splendid  re- 
sort features  and  attractions  of  the  city,  which 
it  has  exploited  the  world  over.  So  located  as  to 
meet  the  schedule  demands  of  the  Southern  Paci- 
fic, that  line  has  continued  to  build  up  its  through 
service,  and  sleeping  cars  now  operate  to  and 
through  San  Antonio,  between  Washington,  At- 
lanta, Chicago,  New  Orleans,  Houston,  Galveston 
and  El  Paso,  and  points  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 

The  elaboration  of  the  service  of  the  Sunset 
Route  includes  all  steel  trains,  the  best  dining 
car  service  in  America,  and  oil  burning  locomo- 
tives which  make  travel  through  and  into  Texas 
the  perfect  travel  because  of  the  freedom  from 
cinders  and  smoke.  Ninety-pound  steel  rails, 
automatic  electric  block  signals,  and  splendid 
ballast,  are  features  of  the  service,  and  San  An- 
tonio is  one  of  the  chief  cities  on  this  system. 

The  Southern  Pacific  lines  also  operate  trains 
to  the  Gulf  at  Port  Lavaca  and  traverse  a  fine 
farming  and  cattle  country  between  San  Antonio, 
Cuero,  Victoria  and  Houston. 


San  Fernando  Cathedral. 
26 


Mission  San  Jose. 


^CHAMBER  OF  COMMERCE 

San  Antonio  has  an  active  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce numbering  more  than  2,000  members.  Al- 
lied with  it  are  the  leading  civic  organizations 
in  the  city:  The  Publicity  League,  which  has 
the  duty  of  advertising  the  resources  and  oppor- 
tunities of  San  Antonio  to  the  world;  The  Real 
Estate  Exchange,  which  has  on  its  membership 
roll  every  active  real  estate  man  in  the  city;  The 
Jobbers  and  Manufacturers'  League,  which  looks 
after  credit  ratings  and  other  interests  of  its 
members;  The  Fiesta  San  Jacinto  Association, 
which  manages  the  spring  festival  held  each  year 
in  San  Antonio;  The  Bexar  County  Highway 
League,  which  encourages  and  assists  in  the  con- 
struction of  improved  streets  and  roads;  The 
Civic  Improvement  League,  which  encourages 
sanitation  and  municipal  improvements,  and  the 
Young  Men's  Business  League,  which  is  bringing 
the  younger  business  men  of  the  city  into  active 
civic  work  and  introducing  them  into  the  larger 
affairs  of  the  Chamber  o/  Commerce. 

With  a  public-spirited  membership  and  an  ac- 
tive and  efficient  official  organization,  the  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce  has  been  one  of  the  funda- 
mentals in  pushing  San  Antonio  and  in  maintain- 
ing its  advantage  before  the  world. 

San  Antonio  Press  Club  is  also  an  active  factor 
in  promoting  the  interests  of  the  city,  and  occu- 
pies commodious  quarters  near  the  center  of  the 


THE  MISSIONS  OF  SAN  ANTONIO 

HESE  interesting,  ancientruins 
speak  in  their  own  way  of 
America's  early  history.  They 
tell  a  wonderful  story  of  the 
efforts  and  faith  of  the  Span- 
ish monks  to  push  the  ritual 
of  the  Holy  Catholic  Church 
into  the  new  and  far  lands  of 
a  conquered  world;  to  prose- 
lyte among  the  savage  tribes 
of  an  unknown  country  and 
make  God  an  abiding  per- 
sonality in  the  hearts  of  a 
strange  people. 

Then,  too,  in  establishing  these  missions  in  re- 
gions remote  from  those  ravaged  by  Cortez  and 
his  successors,  the  edifices  served  as  posts  for 
Spanish  extension  and  marked  additional  domain 
for  the  Lions  of  Castile.  The  missions  were 
chained  together,  as  it  were,  and  built  into  the 
wilderness,  forming  a  connecting  link  with  the 
seat  of  government  in  Mexico.  The  decline  of 
the  temporal  power  of  the  Empire  left  the  seats  of 
spiritual  strength  vacant,  and  now,  after  centuries 
of  human  effort,  of  human  successes  and  failures 
and  the  rise  and  fall  of  dynasties,  these  old  walls 
and  carven  towers  tell  mutely  the  long,  long  story 
of  a  dead  past. 

The  story  of  the  Alamo  was  written  in  the  blood 
of  the  bravest  of  the  brave.  Fighting  for  the  in- 
dependence of  their  country,  the  immortals  fell 
and  their  ashes  mingled  with  the  dust  of  their 
loved  homeland.  Crockett,  Bowie,  Dickinson, 
Travis,  Bonham,  and  a  hundred  obscure  heroes 
fell  beneath  the  persistent  onslaughts  of  Santa 
Anna  and  his  six  thousand  soldiers.  The  conflict 
of  the  "Alamo,"  meaning  "Cottonwood,"  took 
place  on  March  6th,  1836.  No  messenger  of  de- 
feat carried  the  dire  tidings.  Death  claimed  them 
all.  On  April  21st  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto  was 
fought  and  with  the  rout  of  the  Mexicans  and  the 
capture  of  Santa  Anna  the  bonds  which  had  bound 
Texas  to  Mexico  were  severed  for  all  time,  and 


• 


Mission  San  Jose. 
28 


Mission 


the  dead  of  the  Alamo  were  avenged  in  the  glori- 
ous birth  of  the  new  Republic. 

The  Alamo  was  originally  the  Mission  San  An- 
tonio de  Valero,  named  alike  for  St.  Anthony  and 
the  Spanish  Viceroy,  Duke  de  Valero.  The  Mis- 
sion was  first  established  in  the  Gienagua  of  the 
Rio  Grande  in  1703,  later  to  Illdephonso,  and  after 
another  temporary  location  at  San  Pedro  Springs, 
where  it  remained  for  some  years,  was  perman- 
ently located  on  its  present  site  in  1744  and  secu- 
larized by  royal  decree  in  1757.  It  was  the  center 
of  many  conflicts  between  the  Indians  and  Ameri- 
cans and  later  the  Mexicans. 

The  architecture  of  the  Mission  is  severely  plain 
with  the  exception  of  the  ornate  door  and  win- 
dow carvings.  The  main  chapel  was  laid  out  in 
the  form  of  a  cross,  72x62  feet,  with  walls  four 
and  a  half  feet  thick.  ^"V* 

The  Mission  Nuestra  Senora  de  la  Purissima  de 
Acuna,  one  of  the  Spanish  Viceroys,  is  known  as 
the  "First  Mission,"  and  is  one  of  the  most  cele- 
brated of  the  Texas  group  historically,  being  the 
scene  of  one  of  the  bloodiest  contests  of  the  Texas 
revolution.  On  October  28,  1835,  one  hundred 
Americans,  led  by  Col.  Bowie  and  Capt.  Fannin, 
camped  near  the  Mission  and  were  attacked  in 
the  early  dawn  by  a  vastly  superior  force  of  Mex- 
ican soldiery.  Hemmed  in  on  every  side  by  their 
enemies,  the  Americans  fought  desperately  and 


I 


finally  overcame  their  adversaries,  who  fled,  leav- 
ing nearly  a  hundred  dead  and  wounded  on  the 
field;  the  Americans  losing  only  one  man. 


-su 


The  Mission  Concepcion  was  established  in 
1716  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  San  Antonio 
River,  but  was  moved  to  its  present  site  in  1731. 
In  general  appearance  the  building  is  Moorish, 
possessing  two  towers,  and  curious  inscriptions 
on  the  cement-covered  walls.  Like  most  of  the 
Missions,  time  and  vandalism  are  gradually  de- 
stroying this  old  edifice. 

It  was  in  the  year  1689  that  the  first  emissary 
of  the  Spanish  King  reached  the  location  after 
wards  known  as  San  Antonio  de  Bexar.  Don  Alon- 
zp  de  Leon,  then  governor  of  Coahuila,  on  his  ar- 
rival in  the  year  named,  at  the  little  Indian  village, 
was  greeted  by  its  inhabitants  with  cries  of  "Te- 
jas,  Tejas,"  meaning  Paradise.  From  this  did 
"Texas"  originate.  During  the  period  1690  to  1718, 
six  Missions  were  built,  the  first  being  that  of  San 
Francisco  de  Tejas,  afterwards  renamed. 

Mission  San  Juan  de  Capistrano  was  one  of  the 
six  and  was  probably  completed  in  1716.  It  was, 
however,  abandoned  and  permitted  to  lapse  be- 
cause of  its  distance  from  the  settlement.  Only 
the  bell  tower  and  crumbling  walls  now  stand. 

The  Mission  San  Francisco  de  la  Espada,  mean- 
ing "St.  Francis  of  the  Sword,"  was  named  by  the 
then  Viceroy,  Domingo  de  Teran,  and  its  ruins 
stand  on  the  original  site.  It  was  also  permitted 
to  lapse,  but  was  re-established  in  1716.  Time  has 
not  dealt  gently  with  Espada,  and  its  walls  have 
been  gradually  crumbling.  The  De  Zavala  chap- 
ter of  the  Daughters  of  the  Republic  endeavored 
to  raise  a  fund  with  which  to  preserve  the  curious 
old  tower  which  has  always  been  the  most  char- 
acteristic feature  of  the  Mission. 

The  Mission  San  Jose  de  Aguayo,  named  in  hon- 
or of  its  patron,  Saint  Joseph,  and  of  Gov.  De 
Aguayo,  is  undoubtedly  the  most  imposing  and 
beautiful  of  the  old  buildings.  Known  as  the 
"Second  Mission,"  it  gives  ample  token  of  the 
skill  and  architectural  ability  of  the  Franciscan 
Fathers.  The  beautiful  carvings  which  ornament 
the  great  doors  and  windows  were  the  work  of 
the  Spanish  sculptor  Huica,  who  came  across  the 
seas  for  that  purpose.  San  Jose  was  founded  in 
1720,  and  was  eight  years  building.  It  is  today 
the  most  favored  of  all  the  Missions,  and  is  well 
maintained. 


Mission  Concepcion. 
30 


LIST  OF  AGENTS 


ALEXANDRIA,   LA. 

J.    W.    Harrington  ....  Traveling  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 
ATLANTA,  GA.  —  80  Peachtree  Street 

C.  M.    Evans  ............................  General  Agent 

R.    O.    Bean  ...................  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

David   L.    Griffin  ..........  City  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

AUSTIN,   TEXAS  —  Littlefield  Building 

W.  R.  Smith  ..........  Division  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

D.  C.    Cheesman  ...........  City  Passenger  and  Ticket  Agent 

BALTIMORE,  MD.—  29  Baltimore  Street 

Wm.    B.    Johnson  ......  Division  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

A.    A.    Price  .........  Traveling  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

BEAUMONT,  TEXAS  —  Sunset  Park 

F.  L.    Sheeks  ............................  General  Agent 

T.    L.    Cleveland  ......  Traveling  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

O.    B.    Puryear  ............  City  Passenger  and  Ticket  Agent 

BIRMINGHAM,  ALA.  —  310  Brown  Marx  Building 

C.    M.    Evans  ............................  General  Agent 

S.  J.  Brown  ...................  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

Geo.    W.    Ely  ..................  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

BOSTON,  MASS.—  12  Milk  Street 

J.    H.   Glynn  ........................  New  England  Agent 

J.   A.    Blaser  .......................  City  Passenger  Agent 

Wm.    C.    Harris  ................  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

G.  B.    Brown  ..................  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

A.    H.    Boyd  ...................  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

BUFFALO,  N.  Y.—  11  Swan  Street 

S.     C.     Chiles  ..........  District  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

H.    D.    Morse  ..................  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

G.    H.    Vogel  ..................  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

E.  U.    Sturdevant  .........  City  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

CHICAGO,  ILL.—  55  West  Jackson  Boulevard 

W.    G.    Neimyer  ..........................  General  Agent 

O.    P.    Bartlett  ...................  Assistant  General  Agent 

W.    J.    Sack  ...................  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

J.   E.   Maynard  ...................  Traveling  Freight  Agent 

R,  D.  Williams  .....................  City  Passenger  Agent 

H.   M.  Kean  ...................  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

R.   Gunderson  ....................  Traveling  Freight  Agent 

C.    H.    Hawley  ...................  Traveling  Freight  Agent 

CINCINNATI,  O.  —  No.  5  East  Fourth  St.,  Sinton  Hotel  Bldg. 

A.   G.   Little  .............................  General  Agent 

W.    T.    Holly  ..................  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

Earl    Z.    Giblon  ................  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

L.    Liston    ......................  Traveling  Freight  Agent 

S.    C.    Sigler  .....................  Traveling  Freight  Agent 

Geo.    H.    Siebert  ....................  City  Passenger  Agent 

CORSICANA,  TEXAS 

J.    H.    Evetts  .........................  Commercial  Agent 

DALLAS,    TEXAS  —  Railway   Exchange   Building 

S.  G.  Reed  ..............  Assistant  General  Passenger  Agent 

Leon    Dismuke  ..................  Division  Passenger  Agent 

J.   M.  Fariss  .....................  Traveling  Freight  Agent 

J.    C.    Loggins  .............  City  Passenger  and  Ticket  Agent 

DENVER,  COLO.  —  313  Railway  Exchange  Building 

H.    F.    Kern  .............................  General  Agent 

M.     Robertson  ........  Traveling  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

DETROIT,   MICH.  —  221   Majestic   Building 

E.   A.    Macon  ............................  General  Agent 

W.    J.     Montgomery  .  .  .  Traveling  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 
J.    H.    Desherow  ......  Traveling  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

EAGLE  PASS,  TEXAS 

T.    G.    George  ........................  .  .  Agent 

EL  PASO,  TEXAS  —  206  Oregon  Street 

Wm.    C.    McCormick  ......................  General  Agent 

J.    E.    Monroe  .............  City  Passenger  and  Ticket  Agent 

Wade    Cunningham  ....  Traveling  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

FORT  WORTH,  TEXAS—  Westbrook  Hotel  Building 

H.   J.   Fitzgerald  .......  Division  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

A.   J.    Patton  .........  Traveling  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

E.   A.   Pennington  ..........  City  Passenger  and  Ticket  Agent 

FRESNO,  CAL. 

C.    H.    Jasper  .........  Division  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

GALVESTON,  TEXAS—  21st  and  Market  Streets 

A.  J.  Morris  ......................  Division  Freight  Af*ent 

GUAY1.IB 

HAV?N°A, 

General  Agent 

J.    W.    Green  .......  General  Ae'pnt 

HOUSTON,    TEXAS—  Southern   Pacific'  Building'  ' 

R.   H.    Carmichael  .  .  .  Division  Freight  Agent  G.  H.  &  S.  A  Ry 

T.  &  N.  O.  R.  R.,  H.  &  T.  C.  R.R.   '' 
T.    G.   Ratcliff  .........  Commercial  Agent  H.  E.  &  W.  T.  Ry., 

H.  &  S.  R.  R. 
?'   £'    1   ,r  S  .....................  Traveling  Freight  Agent 

J-    F.    s«ni™*-  •  .:  •  .............  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

Rice  Hotel  Building 
Tom    Hood  ................  City  Passenger  and  Ticket  Agent 


KANSAS  CITY,  MO.—  101  Bryant  Building 

C.    T.    Collett  ............................  General  Agent 

L.    F.   McFarland  ...............  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

E.    H.    Williams  ..................  Traveling  Freight  Agent 

LAKE  CHARLES,  LA.  —  Majestic  Hotel 

W.   H.   Stakelum  .......  Division  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

LITTLE  ROCK,  ARK.  —  210   Gazette  Building 

C.  L.  Bouchard  .......................  Commercial  Agent 

LOS  ANGELES,   CAL.,   600  South  Spring  Street 

T.    F.    Fitzgerald  .............  D.  P.  A.,  Wash.  -Sunset  Route 

T  ^oThoS'   °'    Bonnev  .............  T.  P.  A.,  Wash.-Sunset  Route 

LOS  ANGELES,  CAL.  —  Room  602,  Pacific  Electric  Building 

C.   M.    Knox  .............................  General  Agent 

Grove     Ketchum  ......  Traveling  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

MEXICO  CITY—  Ave.  Cinco  de  Mayo,  No.  34 

G.   R.   Hackley  ...........................  General  Agent 

Or.    P.    Mena  .........  Traveling  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

MINNEAPOLIS,   MINN.—  733   Metropolitan   Life  Building 

C.   A.   David  ...........  District  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

NEW  IBERIA,   LA. 

J.   E.   Carter  ...................  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

NEW  ORLEANS.  LA.—  225-227  St.  Charles  Street 

Theo.    Ensign     ............  City  Passenger  and  Ticket  Agent 

*  rank    J.    Bole  .........................  Passenger  Agent 

L,.    P.    Mathru-s.  .  .  .  Metropolitan  Bank,  Trav.  Passenger  Agent 

r^TTr  \r£v,T-erre11  ........  Metropolitan  Bank,  Trav.  Freight  Agent 

NEW  YORK,  N.  Y.—  366,  1158  and  No.  39  Broadway 

L.    H.    Nutting  ............  General  Eastern  Passenger  Agent 

R.    S.    Stubbs  ...............  General  Eastern  Freight  Agent 

(T.    L.    Snyder  ....................  Traveling  Freight  Agent 

366  Broadway 
W.    F.    Anderson  ..........................  Ticket  Agent 

Frank  Barthels    ........................  Passenger  Agent 

1158  Broadway 
A.  C.  Parker  ........  J.   M.  Adler  ........  Passenger  Agents' 


-Ticket  Agent 

^T  L-T    frichardson  .........  District  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

OKLAHOMA  CITY,  OKLA.—  1200  Colcord  Building 

?•    ?•  J>°inter  ........................  Commercial  Agent 

T>T,TT  ,  ^,»€SH\  .........  Traveling  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

PHILADELPHIA,  PA.—  1600  Chestnut  Street 

F.    T.    Brookg  .........  Division  Freight  and  Passenger  Agrnt 

T    c     D  Longacre  ................  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

J.  S  ^  Ramspacker  ...............  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 


J.   G.   Herring  ...........................  General  Agent 

treorge   A.    Smith  ...............  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

J.  L.  Chapman  ..................  Traveling  Freight  Agent 

I.  F.   Starke  .................  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 


SAL?  LAKlm«TY;  UTAH  '  '  DiS'r'Ct  *"'*"  ""*  *''""*" 


A.    R.   Atkinson  ........  Division  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

R.   E.   George  ..................  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

W.    H.    Frazier  ...................  Traveling  Freight  Agent 

E.    McClannahan    ..........  City  Passenger  and  Ticket  Agent 

SAN  FRANCISCO,  CAL.  —  Rooms  1280-1282,  Flood  Building 

P.  K.  Gordon  ............................  General  Agent 

Walter  R.   Van   Sickler.  .  .  .Trav.  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

SAN  FRANCISCO,   CAL.—  Flood  Building 

J.    N.    Harrison  ............  P.  C.  P.  A.,  Wash.-Sunset  Route 

Jas.   H.   P.    Mason  ..............  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

SAN  JOSE,  CAL. 

E.  Shillingsburg  .......  District  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

ST.  LOUIS,  MO.  —  1002  Olive  Street 

Geo.    B.    Hild  ............................  General  Agent 

J.    M.    Mauden  .................  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

W.    A.    White  ....................  Traveling  Freight  Agent 

L.    B.    Banks  ......................  City  Passenger  Agent 

SEATTLE,  WASH.  —  720   Second  Avenue 

C.    M.    Andrews  ........  District  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

SHREVEPORT,  LA.  —  523  Market  Street 

M.    J.    Dooley  .........  Division  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

F.  J.    Latter  .........  Traveling  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

J.  Gauntt    ................  City  Passenger  and  Ticket  Agent 

TACOMA,  WASH.—  Bankers  Trust  Building 

C.    M.    Andrews  ........  District  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

TUCSON,  ARIZ. 

H.    C.    Hallmark.  .  .  Asst.  General  Freight  and  Passenger  Agent 

WACO,  TEXAS  —  112   South  Fourth  Street 

J.    G.    Myerhoeffer  ..................  Division  Freight  Agent 

C.   M.  Reeves,  Jr  ...............  Traveling  Passenger  Agent 

T.    J.     Shields  .............  City  Passenger  and  Ticket  Agent 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.—  911  G  Street,  N.  W. 

A.    J.    Poston  ...........  General  Agent,  Wash.-Sunset  Route 

30M-4M6 


C  li'J 

*    '      IV 

s. 

K 
U 

I 

SET,  OCDEN  A 

ASTA  ROUTES 

D  CONNECTIONS 

jjl 

A                     -"• 

tr 

Z 

I 

Z 
* 

fl 

\       > 

0 

£ 

CO 

r  fl 

"A 

CO 

^            ? 

'  \ 

1 

\ 

I 

